Metro cinema, known for regularly playing the Room, will be the only one to play James Franco's homage The Disaster Artist in Edmonton

It took a little bit, but Metro Cinema will get to screen The Disaster Artist, James Franco’s homage to cult film The Room.

Though Metro had to wait awhile, as of last Friday, it will be the only cinema in town showing semi-accurate and comedic account of the source film’s creation, which received high marks from fans and critics.

David Cheoros, Metro’s executive director, is unsure why the film’s Canadian distributor, Warner Bros., gave the theatre exclusive rights to the film for a time, but is pleased that the one-screen theatre will be showing it nonetheless.

“We’re thrilled to be able to provide that kind of opportunity for patrons who are interested in the film, especially during the holidays where people are looking for something to do with family, or to escape from family,” he said.

“Metro certainly feels invested in this film and the ongoing phenomenon of The Room.”

Previously, the film was showing in larger theatres in Edmonton. According to director of marketing and communications Katie Sowden, for a time, it was unsure when Metro would even screen it.

Film distributors tend to want to get their movie screened as often as possible, which means a later release on Metro’s single screen.

Additionally, it seemed more likely that neighbouring theatre The Princess would get it before them, because they have two screens.

“There’s always an X factor with these things, particularly when there’s a period of a lot of films moving in and out. It can be hard to tell when a film will become available,” Cheoros said.

The Room developed a cult following after its release in 2003. Audiences often mock its shoddy portrayal of authentic human interactions and emotions and, over time, they developed a number of Rocky Horror-esque activities — like tossing spoons in the air whenever a spoon is shown on screen, or yelling “but you’re his best friend” at specific times.

Metro has also put on some special programming for The Room, bringing in Greg Sestero, the actor who plays Mark, the film’s pseudo-antagonist and the source of many of its in-jokes, three times, most recently around a month ago.

Sowden isn’t quite sure when Metro began showing the film, but, she said, it was before it moved from its original downtown location to the historic Garneau Theatre in 2011.

The organization showed the film monthly for years, with occasional breaks.

Screenings usually get “surprisingly good” attendance, considering “It’s maintained such good attendance for so long,” Sowden said.

“It’s a little bit mind boggling.”

It will appear on Metro’s screen until Jan. 10. On Jan. 5, the theatre will show a back-to-back screening of The Disaster Artist and The Room.